Thursday, February 18, 2016

Episode VIII may have just started filming, but there's still so much to enjoy from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, like a closer look at these six costumes from the box office smash on display at the FIDM Museum in Downtown L.A. on February 12, 2016.

Original Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie costumes

At Disney's D23 Expoand at cinemas around the time of the movie's release I've been lucky to already see several Michael Kaplan's costume designs from Star Wars: The Force Awakens on display, but this mini exhibit also features Adam Driver's 'Kylo Ren' costume, John Boyega's Stormtrooper costume with his bloodied helmet and some lesser known background character costumes helping to populate the Star Wars Universe.

Kylo Ren Star Wars Awakens Disneyland billboard

Set thirty years after the events of Return of the Jedi, 'Kylo Ren' is the son of 'Han Solo' and 'Princess Leia' who has been seduced to the Dark Side of the Force by 'Supreme Leader Snoke' and serves his First Order.

Also on display in the exhibit is Gwendoline Christie's chrome-armoured and caped First Order Stormtrooper commandcostume.

Be sure to check out Captain Phasma's costume in more detail when it was on display at ArcLight Hollywood cinema. Confirmed to be returning, let's hope her character gets to see more action in future installments.

Finn's FN-2187 Stormtrooper costume worn by John Boyega

in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I've seen otherFirst Order Stormtrooper costumes on display, but it's cool to see this suit worn by John Boyega as the reluctant soldier, 'FN-2187'. The bloody hand smear on his helmet was a nice way of making his Stormtrooper stand out from the rest when they attack the Jakku village at the start of the movie.

Rey costume worn by Daisy Ridley

in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I've seen the movie at the cinema three times so far and still think Daisy Ridley's 'Rey' costume is an instant classic. The headdress and goggles are practical for scavenging on the desert planet of Jakku and it evokes the look of the Tusken Raiders/Sand People of the original Star Wars. I also love the fact it's feminine, but not exploitative.

Jashco Phurus costume from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Next up is one of the lesser known background character costumes which help to create the diverse alien-inhabited Star Wars Universe. According to the exhibit signage this diminutive character is called 'Jashco Phurus' and looks like a mashup of a Jawa and Tusken Raider.

Avga Rosene costume from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

'Avga Rosene' is another example, and I can't tell without seeing the film again whether these aliens are from Jakku or the menagerie of creatures from Maz Kanata's Castle. It's background characters which often take on a life of their own with fans (remember all those cool looking Bounty Hunters from The Empire Strikes Back), and it was cool to see some outlandish costume designs from outside of the main cast.

If you like these Star Wars outfits, be sure to check out more of Michael Kaplan's costume designs from varied films like Burlesque, the Star Trek movie reboots, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and Disney's The Sorcerer's Apprentice to name but a few.